THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Earth Materials (EASC08014)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryMaterial of the Earth's crust and mantle: crystallography, optical mineralogy, structure, chemistry and occurrence of minerals; introduction to the petrology and petrography of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The Degree examination will include a written paper and practical work. Additional class tests, assessed practicals, and own-time projects will contribute to the final mark.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Earth Dynamics (EASC08001)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
The main learning outcome is the broad knowledge and understanding of the constituent minerals which make up the Earth, and how the study of minerals can be used to understand Earth processes. In the first part of the course, students will learn how to identify, describe and interpret minerals from an atomic level to a hand specimen scale, and will be introduced to the main methods used to study minerals in modern geoscience research. They will become familiar with the principles under which the polarising microscope operates, its significant role as a tool in the Earth Sciences, and become proficient in its use. Students will learn how diffraction techniques are used to study mineral structures and how electron beam techniques are used to determine mineral chemistry, and will gain an appreciation of how a combination of all of these techniques is used to study Earth materials. Students will then be introduced to the most important groups of minerals and develop an understanding of the relations between different groups of minerals, their occurrence, formation and stability, and how this information can be used to understand processes occurring on the Earth. This knowledge will be used during subsequent introductions to both igneous and metamorphic petrology, designed to compliment material covered in Stratigraphy and Sedimentology. Students are actively encouraged to discuss academic problems with fellow students and to work in collaboration: invaluable transferable skills.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Students must attend lab classes on EITHER Monday 3-5pm OR Tuesday 11am-1pm AND EITHER Thursday 2-5pm OR Friday 2-5pm. If you are able to, you must attend Tuesday and Friday practical sessions rather than the Monday and Thursday sessions.
KeywordsEarth_Materials
Contacts
Course organiserDr Geoffrey Bromiley
Tel: (0131 6)50 8519
Email: geoffrey.bromiley@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Nicola Muir
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: Nikki.Muir@ed.ac.uk
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